Florida State fulfills fan wishes, shores up key problem areas

8:40 p.m. EST, October 13, 2012|By Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — In the days immediately following Florida State's loss last weekend at North Carolina State, FSU fans loudly voiced their displeasure with the way coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff negotiated a few suddenly new problem areas.

Incorporate more deep passes, they pleaded. Run sophomore TB James Wilder Jr. more than twice in a game, they implored. Go for a 51-yard field goal when the opportunity presented itself, they asked.

Scoring touchdowns in the red zone and getting on the scoreboard on the first drive after halftime were concerns, too.

They weren't Saturday night, though, when the No. 12 Seminoles hosted Boston College at Doak Campbell Stadium. Each of the pleas Fisher heard throughout one of the more dramatic weeks of his three-year head-coaching career were answered—and emphatically.

Three minutes and 15 seconds into the third quarter, they were all accomplished.

Before halftime, FSU completed four passes of 40 yards or more and had another potentially long pass negated when WR Kelvin Benjamin couldn't hold onto a difficult leaping, one-handed catch attempt. The sophomore bobbled the tough grab as he came down, allowing it to touch the ground just before rolling over with it.

With respect to Wilder, before the end of the third quarter, coaches had given him four carries. He had just one the week before.

As for the 51-yard field goal? With time expiring at the end of the first half, Hopkins drove one through the uprights to give the Seminoles a 31-7 halftime lead. Last week, with the Seminoles driving in the fourth quarter against the Wolfpack, Fisher opted to punt instead of giving Hopkins a try at a 52-yard attempt that would have given them a nine-point lead that would have been tougher for NC State to overcome. FSU may have won the game with those points.

In terms of red zone scoring, the Seminoles had five red zone scoring opportunities through the first three quarters and were successful with each one. The first four resulted in touchdowns. The fifth was another Hopkins field goal.

Last week, FSU was 3-for-4 on red zone drives, but only scored one touchdown.

"We have to get touchdowns in the red zone. Plain and simple," QB EJ Manuel said before the game.

As for the elusive score on FSU's first possession after halftime, they accomplished that with an eight-play drive that culminated with a 3-yard Lonnie Pryor touchdown run. In the two previous games, the Seminoles punted on that drive.

Hopkins' 51-yard field goal just before halftime was noteworthy for another reason. When the kick sailed through the South end zone uprights, it gave Hopkins his 394th career point and an ACC and FSU scoring record.

He entered the ballgame with 387, and seven shy of setting the marks that had been held by former FSU K Derrick Schmidt. Former Maryland K Nick Novak was tied at 393 with Schmidt for the conference record.